Wolves star dismisses suggestions he isn’t good enough for Premier League
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After a poor first half of the season, Wolves now need every player to step up and take responsibility if they’re to avoid being relegated.
The Old Gold suffered poor results under Gary O’Neil, and although Vitor Pereira has taken over, the side still sit 17th in the table on just 16 points after 21 games.
It is now on the Wolves first team to turn performances around to ensure the Old Gold do not return to the Championship for the first time since 2018.
Santi Bueno believes recent criticism is wrong
Playing a key part in Pereira’s system, Santi Bueno has started all six matches the Wolves manager has been in charge of.
The side started under the Portuguese tactician brightly but have since lost back-to-back Premier League games — 3-0 against Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.
And reacting to the side’s most recent poor performance, Wolves expert Liam Keen suggested Bueno isn’t good enough to play in the Premier League.
“Unfortunately, a defence with a central defender in Santi Bueno that can’t defend, simple as that. It sounds harsh, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m not sure he’s a Premier League defender,” Keen said on the E&S podcast.
Bueno doesn’t think that’s the case though.
The 26-year-old was asked ahead of Wolves’ match against Chelsea on Monday how he’s adapted to life in the Premier League.
“I’m very happy with the way I have adapted to Premier League football. I think, at present, it’s the best league in the world and it was very important for me to adapt to this football,” he told the club’s website.
“It is true that I have already played more games in the first six months of this season than I did for the whole season last year, however, I do value those games because they helped me to adapt to a different league, because I came from the Spanish league, which is one of the best in the world as well, and obviously changing country, language, and team is difficult, and you have to adapt quickly.
“Also, the team’s level, and the level of my teammates is very high, so that helped me to improve and progress a lot. I’m really happy with my progression and I hope it carries on like this.”
Defiant words from a player Pereira definitely needs to be at his best as Wolves enter a really tough run of fixtures.
Pereira has faith
Having named Bueno in all of his starting lineups since taking over, Pereira clearly views the Uruguayan as an important player and feels he can rely on him ahead of what’s to come.
The centre-back hasn’t done as badly as it’s been made out. It’s also worth remembering that Bueno has been tasked with getting up to speed with new Wolves signing Emmanuel Agbadou.
Playing alongside a new teammate is never easy — especially one who has no experience of English football and has been thrown in the deep end following his January move from Stade Reims.
Bueno is set to keep his place against Chelsea on Monday night and will be expected to instruct Pereira’s three-man backline to hold their shape and keep the Blues’ fast-paced heavy hitters at bay.
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